Bumper



ug'. l, 1925.

c. GIRI.

BUMPER Filed NOV. 25, 1922 Patented Auge llhld iatale CHRISTIAN GIRL, OF KAL-A200, MICHIGAN', ASSIGNGR T0 THE C. G. SPRING- @c BUMPER COMPANY, Oli* DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPOTION 0F DELW BUMPER.

Application led November 23, 1922. Serial No. 602,682.

To all 'whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN GIRL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bumpers, p

of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings.

This invention relates to bumpers for automobiles and similar vehicles and has for its general object Pto provide a bumper of this character and which, under conditions of extreme deflection, will protect the radiator and other parts from ingury.

In the drawings forming part hereof Fig. l represents-a plan View of bumper constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the manner in which it is mounted upon the ends of a vehicle frame; Fig. 2 is a This pivotal sectional detail corresponding (to the line 2-2 of 1F ig. l; and Fig. 3 a similar View corresponding to the line 3-3'of llig'. 2.

Describing the various parts herein by reference. characters, l denotes the ends of the side members of an `automobile and 2 the bumper supporting arms which are secured Ito such members, as by means of bolts 3, eachv of the arms` having at its outerend an eye 4f by means of which it is pivotally connected to the clamping members (indiu cated generally at 5) which clamping members are in turn secured to the bumper. connection is shown as edected by means of bolts 6.

ihe bumper shown herein comprises genf orally a rear bar (which is preferably of the dat plate type), the said bar extending continuously the full width of the bumper and having its ends bent forwardly into loops and spaced apart at the front or impact-receiving portion of the bumper. The central portion of the bar is preferably bent forward into, or substantially into, the plane of the ends ot the front portion, indicated at From this centrally the rear bar 'is outwardly and rearwardly, as indicated at 7a, thence outwardly, as indicated at 7b, the end i rtions then being bent first outwardly and than inwardly, as indicated atic and '-Zd, to form loops at opposite ends of the bumper. The opposite ends of the parts are connected by a 8 which is shown aus secured such parts by which is particularly strong` proiected portion y means of suitable clamps, indicated at 9.

The central portion ofthe connected to the central rear bar by any suitable such as 9a.

l/Vith bumpers of the resilient bar or plate type there is danger that, under severe deflection, the central portion between the supporting arms or brackets ma be forced or driven rearwardly against t e radiator (in the case of a front bumper) or forwardly against-the gasoline tank or other parts to be protected by a rear bumper. Under such severe blows or deflections, any ordinary type of friction clamp cannot prevent the bar attached thereto from being dragged or moved through such clamp; in fact, such yielding at the clamp contributes to the protection of the automobile and its parts by the bumper, since it permits the bumper to yield suiiiciently to accommodate a severe deflection without breakage.

In order to revent injury'of the radiator (in the case o a fwn-t bumper) and of the gasoline tank or other parts at the rear of a cai'1 (inthe case of a rear bumper) I provide the bumper with a rear bar serving to operate as a positive sto against extreme deflection of the cen-tra portion V.of the bumper propera in the drawings hereof, such a bar is indicated generally at l0, the said bar having its-central portion bowed rearwardly, or toward the body of the yehicle, and its ends constructed and arranged to be attached to the portions ib of the main bumper, the end portions 1G of such reinforcing' bar or `plate being preferably parn allel with the corresponding portions 7 of the main bumper and each end portion lill being provided with projection 10b, preferably formed by bending the ends of tbe said bar at substantially right angles to the parts loa thereof.

vThe bumper is mounted upon 'the arms 2 bar or plate 8 is portion 7 of the by means of the clamps 5, which clam s are 'i 'shown as securing together the parte clamping means,

inner channel-shared member liv r' which is adapted to extend above and below* an eye 4 and to receive Jointly with such eye one of the bolts 6. In addition', each clamp comprises an Lshaped member 12, the upper flange 5 of which overlaps the top of the upper branch of 'its channeled member 11 and also receives the bolts 6. Between the\vertical portions of the members 11 and 12 there is provided a channeled seat for the reception of the` rear portion 7b of the bumper, the end'portion 10a of the bar 10, and a short spacing plate 13 interposed between the parts 11 and 12. The lower ends of the members 11 and 12 of each clamp and the lower end of the plate 13 are provided with lugs 11, 12a and 13*5 respectively, through which extend bolts 14, the said bolts clamping the lower ends of the parts 11, 12 and 13 together and also serving to retain the parts 10 and 2'b in place.

It will be noted that, when the parts are assembled, the end projections 10b of the rear bar 10 extend a short distancepbeyond the outer ends of the clamping members 5.l In practice, this distance may be about half an inch.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, the bumper comprising the parts 7'8 inclusivewill function in the ordinary manner under blows' or impacts received by the central portion thereof and which are not of such severity as to deflect with P such central portion into engagement the part 10 of the reinforcing bar or plate. When the central portion of thev bumper proper engages the part 10, the latter part will move rearwardly (or forwardl inthe case of a rear bumper).v Under a blow of sufficient severity to-v cause an ordinary bumper to endanger the radiator or gasoline tank the end (portions 1()a of the part 10 may be dragge through their clamps; but this dragging will be stopped as soon as the hooks or projections. 10b engage the outer ends of the clamps. The auxiliary bar 10 will then serve as a positive stop to limit the dragging of the bumper parts through the clamps, and thereafter the blow will be taken entirely by the bumper, the auxiliary plate 10, arms 2 and frame members 1. lVhere the arms 2 are of resilient material, the auxiliary bar will be so shaped and proportioned that the central portion 'thereof will not impinge upon the radiator' dly or toward each other to the maximum ex' tent permitted by their length and by the limit of elasticity of the metal of which they or tank when-said arms vare moved inwar "are composed.

By mounting the auxiliary bar in the manner described, it constitutes a yieldable stop for the portion of the bumper which may contact therewith, and this yieldable Jfeature enhances its valueand-etciency in protecting the vehicle parts against injury;

vLas-ienne While my invention its use in connection with a bumper ofi/the type shown herein renders the bumper as a whole less liable to injury under impact and greatly enhances the protection alorded to a vehicle by thev bumper and auxiliary bar 10. Because of the manner of constructing the bumper proper and pivotally mounting the same ,upon the arms 2, a blow` delivered to any `part of the bumper is transmitted` throughout the whole extent of the latter. The pivotal connections enable the central portion of the bumper to yieldunder severe impact, the rear or auxiliary portion 7-7J resisting such yielding 'until the parts, 7a are reversely curvedto an extent to enablethem to engage the auxiliary bar 10, after which the three parts 8, 7, 7a

Xand 1() all cooperate to protect the portion is capable of use in connection with various forms of bumpers,r

Having thus described myv invention, y

what I claim is: p

l. The combination, with supporting members, of a bumper connected to and extending between said members, an auxiliary bar additional to,said bumper |10- cated betweenvthe said bumper and the ve-,

hicle to which said members are attached and adapted to engage the portion of the bumper between said members when such ortion is under ,severe deiiection, and means Jf rictionally engaging said auxiliary bar on opposite sides of its central portion, wherebythe rictional drag of said bar will aid in checking the movement of thel intermediate portions of the bumper and bar toward the vehicle.

.2. The combination, with supporting members, of a bumper having a yieldable central portion supported by and between said members, and an auxiliary bar of resllient material supported by said members and having its central portion bowed away from the central portion of the bumper.

8. The combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a resilient bumper connected to the said members, a resilient auxiliary bar located between the said bumper and the vehicle to which it is attached and arranged to be engaged by the central portion of said bumper under severe deflectiommeans movably supporting the said auxiliary bar, andstops for limiting the extent of the movement thereof.

4. rlhe combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a resilient bumper extending between and connected to said members, a yieldable member additional to said bumper interposed between the central portion o'l such'bumper and the adjacent part of a vehicle aud serving to limit the movement ot such central portion of the bumper toward the said vehicle, and

l ce

means yieldably engaging the said member.

5. The combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a resilient bar bumper extending between and connected to said members, a resilient bar addi-v tional to said bumper interposed between the central portion of the said bumper and the portion of the vehicle protected thereby, and means engaging the last mentioned bar on opposite sides of the center thereof, at least one of such engaging means serving to exert a frictional drag upon said bar vwhen the latter is engaged by the bumper bar. i

6. The combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a resilient bar bum-per extending across and connected to the said members, an auxiliary bar interposed between the central portion of the said bumper and the portion of the vehicle to be protected thereby, the said auxiliary bar having its central portion'deiiected toward the vehicle, means movably supporting the said auxiliary bar, and stops for limiting the extent of movement of said bar. I

T. rl`he combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a bumper com; prising a front or impact section and-an auxiliary section connected section, clamps for connecting the auxiliary section of the bumper to said members, an auxiliary bar having a movable connection with said clamps and having a central portion projected away from thece-ntral portion of said bumper, kand means for limiting the movement of 'said bar with respect to the said clamps.

8. rlhe combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a bumper comprising a front or impact section and an auxiliary section connected at its ends With the ends oi the impact section, clamps for connecting the auxiliary section of the bumper to said members, an auxiliary bar having a movable connection with said clamps and having a central portion normally spaced from the central portion of said bumper, and means for limiting the movemeru"J or' said bar with respect to the said clamps.'

9. rlhe combination, With a pair of bumper supporting members, of a resilient bumper comprising a front or impact section' and a rear or auxiliary section connected to the front section, clamps pivotally connecting e rear section to said members, an auxiliary bar having its central portion projected away from the central portion of the bumper and its ends slidably mounted in said clamps, and projectionson said bar for limiting the sliding movement thereof With respect to said clamps.

' l0.' The. combination, with a' pair of bumper supporting members, ot a resilient bumper comprising a front or impact section and a rear or auxiliary section connectyed tor the front section,

section, means with the impactv bers, the said `means means pivotally connectingthe rear section to said members, au auxiliary bar extending across and spaced from the central portion of said auxiliary yieldingly supporting the end portions of said bar, and means for limiting the extent of movement of said bar.

11. lhe combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a bumper comprising a front or impact section and a rear or auxiliary section connected with the impact section, an auxiliary bar interposed between the central portion of the said bumper and the portion of the vehicle to be protected thereby, the said auxilia bar having its central portion deected toward the vehicle, means p-ivotally connecting the auxiliary section and the auxiliary bar to said members, said means permitting a lsliding movement of the end portions of said bar, and stops 'for limiting the extent of such movement.

l2. The combination, with a pair of bumper supporting members, of a bumper comprising a front or impact section and a rear or auxiliary section connected with the impact section and having its central portion projecting toward and connectedo the central portion of the impact section, an auxiliary bar interposed between the central portion of the said bumper and the portion of the vehicle to be protected thereby, and means connecting `the auxiliary section and the auxiliary lbar 'to said members, the said means permitting a sliding movement of the end portions of said auxiliary bar. Y i 13. The combination, with a pair oit bumper supporting' members, ot a bumper comprising a front or .impact section and a rear or auxiliary section impact section and having its central portion projecting toward and connected to the central portion of the impact section, an auxiliary bar interposed between the central portion of the said bumper and the portion oi the vehicle 'to be protected thereby, the said auxiliary bar having its central. portion deiiected toward the vehicle, and means connecting the auxiliary section and the auxiliary bar tosaid members, the-said means permitting a sliding movement oit the end portions oi' said auxiliary bar,

le. rihe combination, with a pair oi bumpersupporting members, of a bumper comprising a iront or ,impact section and a rear'or auxiliary section nnected With the impact section and having its central portion projecting toward and connected to the central portion ot the impact section, an auxiliary bar `intenpcsed between the central portion' ofy the said bumper and the portion of the vehicle to be protected therey, means pivotally connecting the auxiliary section and the auxiliary bar to said memconnected with the Elli@ llt?) o bumper supporting memb movement of the end portions of said auxiliary bar, and stops for limiting the extent of such movement.

15. The combination, with e pair of ers, of a bumper comprising a, front or impact section and a rear or auxiliary section connected with the impact sections and having its central portion projecting toward and connected to the central portion of the impact section, an. auxiliary bar interposed between the central portion of the seid'loumper anti the portion portions of the vehicle tobe protected thereby, the said auxiliary bar having its central portion deflected toward the vehicle, means pivotally connecting the auxiliary section and the auxiliary bar to said members, thevsaid means permitting a' sliding movement of the end of said auxiliary bar, and stops for limiting the extent of such movement.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

CHRSTIAN GIRL. 

